Herby Turkey Grilled Cheese

January 27, 2022

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If you are a Bruegger’s Bagels fan, you may be familiar with the name “Herby Turkey,” however, this sandwich is not that sandwich. (Better though, maybe???) I’m calling this sandwich the Herby Turkey Grilled Cheese because between two pieces of sourdough is layers of creamy, tangy, HERBY goat cheese, a jam of your choice for a touch of sweetness, tasty turkey, a handful of arugula for that peppery bite, and another cheese of your choice. GRILLED, BABY! Well, not grilled like, on the grill, but like how a grilled cheese is grilled. Ja feel?

Modifiable Ingredients

The Herby Turkey Grilled Cheese recipe, like all of my recipes, is totally modifiable to your tastes. You could go so far as to say the recipe is bread + goat cheese + herbs + meat + greens + cheese, so plenty of room for customization. Perhaps you don’t like to make decisions, like me. (Libra szn 24/7, amiright?) If that’s the case, follow my recipe using my recommendations! BUT let me just go into a bit more detail here…

Herby goat cheese: In this recipe, we make homemade herby goat cheese. It’s just goat cheese + assorted fresh herbs + garlic + pepper. The fresh herbs part is really up to you. I like to use “savory” herbs here, like ones you’d use when seasoning a roast chicken. But maybe you’re feelin’ cilantro + parsley for a chimichurri vibe. Or maybe you only have chives in the fridge. No big. It’s gonna be good no matter what herbs you use. Sayyyy you don’t like goat cheese?? You could sub in cream cheese or mascarpone for that too. Maybe even feta?
Meat: I enjoy the milder taste of a good deli roast turkey in this recipe but I think chicken would also be great. My sister was thinking that the addition of prosciutto would be bomb. I’d probably skip meats like roast beef or salami because their flavors might be too overpowering.
Greens: I used baby arugula in my sandwiches but I know some people are not into arugula. Spinach would be a great substitute or baby kale, or you could leave greens out altogether.
Cheeeeese: You almost can’t go wrong here. The only cheeses I wouldn’t recommend are blue cheese, smoked cheese like gouda, or American. I know people love American cheese on their grilled cheeses because of the awesome melt factor, but I feel like the flavor would clash with the goat cheese & jam. You could check out Bon Appetit’s 8 Best Melting Cheeses for more ideas. I tried this recipe with both aged white cheddar and brie. They were both super delicious! I think pepper jack would give it a nice kick as well.

How to make the Herby Turkey Grilled Cheese

First, we’ll prepare the herby goat cheese. You can absolutely go the easy route and buy an herbed goat cheese from the store. Probs the cheaper route too, cause fresh herbs can be expensive. No judgement here! But, if you’re going to make your own, start with 4 ounces of goat cheese, softened in the microwave for about 15 seconds or so. It should still hold its shape but will be pliable and easy to stir. Mix in about a tablespoon of minced fresh herbs—I like to use a mix of basil, chives, rosemary, and thyme. But you could just use one or two herbs if that’s what you have on hand. Grate a small clove of garlic in and several grinds of pepper. Mix it up and taste. Make sure it is to your liking. It’s going to be freaking good but try to save it for the sandy! That’s the hardest part in my opinion and now it’s done.

Let’s assemble the sandwiches! This recipes makes two. But if you are only making one, you can save half of the herby goat cheese for another sandwich or another use (like eating with a spoon). Spread half the goat cheese on one piece of bread. Spread the jam on top of the goat cheese, then a handful of arugula, then 2 slices of turkey. Now add a layer of your second cheese, and the second piece of bread to finish it off. I like to make my grilled cheeses with butter AND mayo. Slather the outside of one piece of bread while you heat a pat of butter on medium-low heat in a frying pan. Once hot, put the sandwich into the pan, mayo side down. Give it a lil smoosh, then slather the exposed side of the sandy with mayo. For my stovetop, 3–4 minutes on low heat is what makes my grilled cheese golden brown & melty. When in doubt, go low and slow. The easiest way to ruin your herby turkey grilled cheese is to rush it with high heat. Once both sides are toasty brown, transfer the sandwich to a plate and let it rest for a minute or two before cutting it in two. Enjoy!

Questions about the Herby Turkey Grilled Cheese, Answered

What can you use instead of goat cheese?

Cream cheese would be a good sub in this case! Mascarpone would work as well.

What is the best cheese to use as the second cheese?

SO many choices here. I’d recommend sharp cheddar, brie, pepper jack, monterey jack, havarti, or other mild-ish cheeses like that. Personally, I would not use blue cheese, American, smoked gouda or something strong like that because I don’t think they will complement the other flavors.

How do you not burn grilled cheese?

Rule #1: LOW HEAT. Rule #2: SET A TIMER. You can always set it again if it’s not ready. But you don’t want to forget about it cause it goes from toasty goodness to burned badness real quick. Which is why you should use low heat—you’ll have more control over its toastyness.

Can you use just mayo or just butter instead of both?

Sure thing. You can make your grilled cheese however you prefer. I got the tip of mayo on the bread + butter in the pan from Bon Appetit a while ago and I never looked back!